The  Church’s  Mission 
at  Home  and  Abroad 

A DDRESS 

to  the  General  Convention  of  1913 

By  The  Right  Reverend 
Arthur  S.  Lloyd,  D.D. 

President  of  The  Board  of  Missions 


The  Church’s  Mission  at  Home  and 
Abroad:  What  Should  be  Done  to  Fur- 
ther It  During  the  Next  Three  Years 

IF  I had  powers  of  persuasion  I would  use  my  time 
to-day  to  convince  you  that  the  best  and  most  profit- 
able thing  the  Church  could  do  during  the  next  three 
years  for  its  work  of  extension,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad,  would  be  to  take  into  careful  consideration  the 
whole  plan  of  its  organization  for  work ; so  that  when 
the  Convention  meets  again  three  years  hence  it  may  be 
in  a position  to  adopt  such  a working  plan  as  will  show 
that  the  Church  not  only  realizes  that  it  has  a great  work 
to  do,  but  proposes  to  do  it.  The  duty  it  owes  to  the 
nation,  as  well  as  the  Church’s  own  best  interests,  de- 
mands this  if  for  no  other  reason  than  that  a right 
method  is  a controlling  factor  in  any  successful  work. 
But  there  is  another  and  more  urgent  reason  for  re- 
organization. There  is  no  question  that  the  Church  is 
confronting  tasks  for  which  its  present  organization  is 
inadequate.  It  cannot  ignore  any  longer  without  dis- 
credit many  things  which  will  test  its  strength  to  the 
utmost. 

The  Immigrants 

For  example,  hitherto  we  have  taken  no  part  in  the 
work  that  must  be  done  to  help  the  new  comers  to  our- 
shores  understand  what  true  freedom  depends  on,  ex- 
cept as  individual  dioceses  have  done  what  they  could. 
The  well-being  of  the  State,  as  well  as  the  Church’s 
strength,  demand  that  the  matter  be  no  longer  delayed. 


The  Institutions  of  Higher  Learning 

To  suggest  other  work  waiting  and  which  needs  the 
Church’s  help  in  far  more  effective  fashion  than  has 
been  attempted  heretofore:  the  institutions  of  learning 
in  the  country  are  the  centres  of  public  opinion,  since 
in  the  long  run  college  men  and  women  are  the  determin- 
ing force  in  social  development.  In  these,  especially  in 
the  Western  states,  it  is  by  no  means  unusual  to  find 
young  men  and  women  who  have  never  heard  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  Church  ought  not 
to  allow  this  to  continue  on  account  of  the  loss  it  en- 
tails. If  what  somebody  has  said  be  true,  that  as  long 
as  we  have  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  the  Con- 
stitution, American  institutions  are  safe,  then  weight  is 
added  to  the  obligation  that  rests  upon  you.  But  if  it 
is  to  be  done,  it  were  futile  to  talk  of  the  dioceses  doing 
it  unaided.  As  a matter  of  fact,  in  those  states  where 
such  work  is  needed  most  the  Church  is  not  strong 
enough  to  do  it  as  it  should  be  done.  The  Church  must 
not  lose  what  is  of  essential  value  to  its  welfare,  or 
fail  in  the  duty  it  owes  the  State,  because  some  diocese 
is  unable  to  meet  all  the  demands  which  the  Church’s 
best  interests  lay  upon  it. 

The  Rural  Districts 

Yet  one  more  illustration  of  the  larger  things  that 
challenge  the  Church’s  endeavor.  In  the  rural  districts 
throughout  the  country  is  found  practically  a pure  Amer- 
ican population ; yet  these  are  becoming  rapidly  un- 
churched, with  all  the  attendant  marks  of  deterioration. 
Here  again  the  work  to  be  done  is  generally  within  the 
limits  of  dioceses  that  are  weak  financially.  They  can- 
not meet  the  problem  as  it  should  be  met.  Yet  from 
these  same  country  districts  constant  recruits  come  to 


our  cities.  It  is  largely  for  the  Church* to  determine 
whether  the  new  life  drawn  thither  shall  help  or  hinder 
a right  civic  development,  to  say  nothing  of  its  own 
safeguarding  and  enriching.  I confess,  there  is  no  waste 
that  seems  to  me  so  serious  as  this.  There  is  no  reason 
why  the  descendants  of  those  who  first  settled  this  land 
should  not  add  increasingly  to  its  real  power  and  wealth 
and  righteousness.  And  they  would,  if  they  had  a 
chance.  Of  this  there  is  proof  that  cannot  be  gainsaid 
in  the  results  of  the  work  done  by  those  bishops  and 
priests  who  for  the  Church’s  honor  have  thrown  them- 
selves into  the  task.  Where  the  means  of  development 
and  the  teaching  on  which  character  depends  have  been 
brought  within  the  reach  of  these  our  fellow-citizens, 
the  results  have  been  astonishing,  showing  that  here  is  a 
fertile  land  indeed,  waiting  to  be  tilled  for  the  harvest. 
It  is  practically  trifling  with  its  own  future  well-being 
for  the  Church  to  leave  it ; as  it  is  cruel  to  allow  the 
dioceses  to  bear  the  burden  alone. 

The  Need  of  Greater  Efficiency 

I need  not  enumerate  other  large  opportunities  in- 
viting the  Church  to  gird  on  its  strength.  This  is  enough 
to  set  one  thinking.  If  we  are  to  do  any  of  these  things 
we  must  develop  greater  efficiency.  Certainly  as  things 
are,  they  cannot  be  done.  Hence  it  is  interesting  to  note 
what  are  the  resources  of  the  Church,  that  we  may  learn 
whether  the  Church  is  doing  all  it  can.  The  Church  fur- 
nishes a disproportionate  share  of  the  courage  and  brains 
that  direct  the  great  enterprises  in  our  country.  It  pro- 
vides a large  part  of  the  wealth  with  which  these  are 
prosecuted.  It  is  conspicuous  wherever  culture  and  re- 
finement and  all  that  adds  color  to  life  are  found.  Its 
people  are  generous  to  respond  to  any  appeal  for  relief 


in  distress  as. in  all  that  lightens  the  burdens  of  the  un- 
fortunate. Where  effort  is  made  for  the  amelioration 
of  conditions  its  people  are  strong  helpers.  Where  work 
for  God  and  righteousness  is  being  done,  its  priests  and 
lay  workers  are  in  the  forefront.  Its  best  asset  is  the 
character  of  its  clergy.  With  simplicity  and  sanity  it  in- 
terprets for  men  the  Revelation  showed  by  the  Incarnate 
One.  With  fidelity  it  clings  to  the  Catholic  tradition 
while  it  bears  witness  to  human  liberty.  Surely  the 
Church  in  America  is  not  lacking  in  resources  for  the 
task  to  which  its  Master  calls  it 

A National  Church  Requires 
National  Organization 

How  effectively  then  does  the  Church  apply  this 
strength  for  its  work  of  extension?  It  would  not  be 
fair  to  say  that  it  makes  no  use  of  it  at  all,  for  that 
would  do  injustice  to  the  splendid  exhibit  of  individual 
endeavor  and  faithfulness.  But  we  should  have  no 
right  to  complain  if  the  casual  observer  charged  the 
Church  with  showing  no  sense  of  responsibility  for  the 
right  use  of  the  amazing  power  with  which  the  Lord 
has  endowed  it.  So  far  as  organization  is  concerned, 
the  Church  to-day,  when  it  has  become  national,  is  prac- 
tically the  same  as  it  was  when  our  fathers  were  strug- 
gling to  save  it  from  perishing.  There  is  no  more  unity 
of  thought  and  action,  so  far  as  the  work  of  extension  is 
concerned,  than  in  the  day  when  Kemper  was  conse- 
crated and  sent  to  plant  the  Church  in  the  country  to 
the  westward.  In  such  a time  as  that,  when  every  man 
had  to  be  ready  to  defend  his  own  home  against  sud- 
den attack,  there  was  something  fine  in  the  single  mes- 
senger being  sent  after  his  brethren  to  minister  to  them 
and  their  children  while  the  wilderness  was  being  sub- 


dued  to  provide  homes  for  Americans.  But  times  have 
changed.  The  settlements  have  grown  together  and 
have  become  the  nation.  Individualism  has  given  place 
to  the  co-operation  and  well-ordered  system  that  mark 
intelligent  forethought  and  performance.  In  the 
Church  alone  must  we  look  for  a survival  of  the  methods 
that  the  stress  and  poverty  of  the  first  days  compelled. 
To  this  day,  when  changing  conditions  require  that  a 
missionary  district  be  created,  a bishop  is  consecrated 
and  thrown  on  his  own  resources  as  if  he  were  embark- 
ing on  an  enterprise  in  which  he  alone  is  concerned,  and 
whose  fate  concerns  none  beside  himself  and  those  whom 
he  has  persuaded  to  cast  in  their  lot  with  him.  Surely 
there  is  room  for  improvement. 

The  Centre  and  the  Outposts 

In  the  old  time  communication  between  distant  parts 
was  difficult  and  of  necessity  men  worked  singly  or  in 
companies,  dependent  on  their  own  resources,  com- 
pelled to  do  the  best  they  could  without  knowing  what 
others  were  doing  and  without  expecting  help  to  come 
to  them  through  the  co-operation  of  friends.  To-day 
men  have  changed  all  that,  and,  close  contact  between 
remotest  sections  being  possible,  they  have  been  quick 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantage,  and  the  whole  force 
of  the  organization  concerned  is  ready  to  be  applied  for 
its  least  interest.  I had  the  privilege  of  being  shown 
the  system  of  one  of  the  great  corporations,  and  I saw 
how  its  smallest  agent  in  the  farthest  corner  knew  that 
he  was  taken  account  of  by  the  mighty  power  that  he 
represented,  and  at  his  appeal  all  its  resources  were  at 
his  service  if  needed  for  the  best  interests  of  the  enter- 
prise he  was  charged  with.  The  Church  has,  I believe, 
the  unique  distinction,  and  this  only  within  the  States, 


of  sticking  to  the  plan  of  requiring  each  of  its  men  to 
work  as  if  there  were  nothing  on  which  he  might  de- 
pend except  his  own  efforts,  nor  help  except  as  he  can 
find  it.  One  who  did  not  understand  our  mode  of  pro- 
cedure could  not  be  blamed  if  he  concluded  that  there 
was  no  bond  uniting  our  missionary  bishops,  or  that 
these  had  nothing  in  common  with  the  dioceses  that  have 
developed  strength  enough  to  take  care  of  themselves. 
The  Church  is  alone  in  thus  seeming  to  cling  to  the 
theory  that  individualism  is  stronger  than  co-operation. 
I do  not  believe  there  is  another  organization  in  Amer- 
ica which  would  expect  its  representative  to  depend  on 
his  own  unaided  ability  to  win  friends  for  the  work 
which  he  is  doing  for  it.  But  the  Church  goes  even 
further  and  almost  displays  genius  in  making  it  appear 
that  the  support  its  representative  receives  is  personal 
favor  showed  the  individual,  and  is  to  be  credited  to 
the  generosity  that  finds  pleasure  in  relieving  distress. 

Conservatism  may  be  Overdone 

Conservatism  has  its  merits,  and  the  Church  has 
definite  leanings  to  it.  There  is  something  in  the  very 
atmosphere  of  the  Church  that  is  conducive  to  it.  We 
all  become  conservatives,  even  if  we  began  as  radicals. 
And  for  my  own  part  I love  it  and  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  I believe  not  the  least  factor  in  the  bless- 
ing which  the  Church  manifestly  brings  wherever  it 
comes  is  in  the  conservatism  that  it  begets  and  the  rever- 
ence it  induces  for  the  principles  and  theories  which 
have  been  the  bulwarks  of  Christian  civilization.  But 
even  the  best  and  most  admirable  things  may  be  over- 
done, and  to  conserve  the  methods  of  the  past  when  the 
whole  world  has  learned  how  ineffectual  and  wasteful 
they  are,  is  not  to  the  Church’s  credit.  Worse,  it  has 


worked  definite  mischief.  In  reality  the  Church  is  strong 
enough  to  do  whatever  its  own  mission  and  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  Nation  demand.  Practically  it  represents 
(outside  the  few  strong  dioceses)  a large  number  of  weak 
communities,  each  one  helpless  to  cope  with  the  obstacles 
confronting  it.  In  reality,  its  wealth  is  sufficient  to 
maintain  any  enterprise  that  is  necessary  for  its  own 
well-being  or  for  the  sake  of  the  Nation  it  delights 
to  serve.  Practically  it  is  poor  and  impotent  in  the  face 
of  work  which  for  the  sake  of  its  own  integrity  must  be 
done,  simply  because  perhaps  not  more  than  one-third 
of  its  people  realize  that  the  Church’s  prosperity  is  a 
test  of  their  fidelity  as  Christians. 

Really  Rich,  Practically  Poor 

The  point  of  view  of  the  whole  body  is  affected  by 
its  wrong  conservatism  and  nothing  could  be  more  dam- 
aging. The  diocese  becomes  certain  that  no  obligation 
rests  upon  it  till  its  last  need  is  provided  for.  The 
parish  is  certain  it  owes  nobody  anything  until  it  has 
done  all  it  would  like  to  do  for  itself.  Naturally  and 
logically  the  individual  concludes  that  he  owes  nothing 
to  either  of  them  till  he  has  provided  himself  with  all 
he  would  like  to  have.  But  nobody  can  find  fault  with 
any  of  them,  since  the  Church  in  General  Convention 
assembled  has,  until  it  met  in  Cincinnati,  consistently 
cast  all  its  canons  relating  to  its  work  of  extension  in 
such  form  as  to  make  it  easy  for  men  to  believe  that  this 
work  of  extension  is  something  apart  from  the  regular 
and  normal  work  of  the  Church;  to  be  undertaken  if  the 
pious  are  moved  thereto,  after  they  have  provided  for 
themselves.  Only  the  other  day  was  that  canon  stricken  out 
which  solemnly  ordered  that  in  every  parish  at  least  one 
offering  should  be  made  during  the  year — for  Missions ! 


The  Cost  of  a Mistaken  Idea 

The  results  that  have  followed  such  methods  are 
about  what  might  be  expected.  In  great  areas  of  the 
country,  where  the  Church  should  be  a potent  influence, 
many  do  not  know  it  by  name.  Some  of  the  States 
where  the  Church  was  long  ago  planted  owe  practically 
all  they  have  of  Christian  teaching  to  other  communions. 
Dioceses  that  long  ago  should  have  become  sources  of 
strength  and  large  contributors  to  the  Church’s  active 
working  force  are  still  known  as  missionary  districts 
and  dependent  on  help  for  their  existence.  All  because 
the  Church  has  continued  to  leave  its  workers  to  strug- 
gle single-handed  until  their  day  of  opportunity  passed. 
And  the  record  might  be  made  tragic  by  the  story  of 
suffering  and  heart-breaking  disappointment  that  has 
been  the  fate  of  some  of  its  greatest  men  because  the 
Church  seemed  to  forget  them  in  their  struggle.  Nor 
would  it  be  right  for  me  to  leave  unsaid  that  which  hurts 
even  while  I say  it.  This  same  easy-going  satisfaction 
with  old  methods  is  to-day  breaking  the  hearts  of  strong 
men  and  the  spirit  of  weak  ones  by  not  even  providing 
for  an  adequate  living  for  them,  while  it  leaves  the  men 
who  have  grown  old  in  the  service  to  find  a roof  where 
they  may,  thus  preparing  fertile  soil  for  scandal  and 
weakness.  Surely  the  Church  cannot  expect  blessing 
if  these  things  are,  which  might  be  prevented. 

The  Situation  Should  be  Carefully  Studied 

Am  I not  right,  then,  when  I declare  that  the  best 
thing  the  Church  could  do  for  its  work  of  extension, 
whether  at  home  or  abroad,  during  the  next  three  years, 
would  be  to  set  itself  seriously  to  correct  these  things 
which  needlessly  hinder  its  growth  and  render  impos- 
sible the  full  use  of  its  strength  ? Why  should  not  this 


Convention  appoint  a commission  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  whole  matter  of  the  Church’s  organization  for 
work,  letting  it  be  understood  that  the  very  oldest 
canon  relating  to  that  work  shall  have  no  favor  showed 
it  unless  it  can  be  proven  useful?  I have  no  doubt  that 
there  might  be  devised  a working  plan  by  which  all  the 
Church’s  resources  might  be  made  available ; by  which 
the  various  departments  of  its  work  might  be  co-or- 
dinated and  made  to  strengthen  one  another ; by  which 
the  work  could  be  so  systematized  as  to  put  an  end  to 
waste;  by  which  the  workers,  carefully  selected  and  pro- 
vided for,  might  be  compacted  in  a strong  force,  mutually 
dependent  and  helpful,  heartened  by  the  courage  born 
of  esprit  dc  corps,  inspired  by  the  hope  of  success. 

Such  a plan  would  substitute  for  an  army  of  individ- 
uals asking  for  help,  the  Church,  the  Body  of  Christ,  lay- 
ing before  His  servants  the  opportunity  for  their  devo- 
tion. Such  a plan  would  bring  to  the  men  now  helpless 
through  loneliness  or  broken  by  poverty,  the  strength 
that  comes  of  serving  when  God’s  Church  is  their  sup- 
port. Such  a plan  would  transform  the  Church  in  weak 
dioceses,  converting  a pathetic  company  struggling  for 
existence  into  a positive  influence  for  righteousness,  and 
a right  public  opinion ; and  all  this  simply  because  the 
power  or  influence  of  individuals  is  not  measured  by 
what  they  are  or  possess,  but  by  what  they  represent. 
Such  a plan  would  make  the  Church  forget  to  talk  of  the 
poverty  which  it  knows  does  not  exist,  in  its  enthusiasm 
for  the  work  which  challenges  its  endeavor.  Such  a 
plan  would  spell  victory. 

If  I had  the  power  to  persuade,  I would  move  the 
Church  to  take  thought  for  a right  organization  and  a 
working  plan  that  is  worthy  of  the  splendid  things  that 
challenge  its  courage  and  statesmanship. 


Copies  of  this  pamphlet  may  be 
obtained  from 

THE  BOARD  OF  MISSIONS 
281  Fourth  Avenue  * New  York 

by  asking  for  No.  900 

All  offerings  for  the  Church’s 
work  at  home  and  abroad  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  Geo.  Gordon  King, 
Treasurer,  at  the  same  address. 


2M.  3-14.  S.P. 


